Fridae

This dyke-friendly film needs no introduction to the girls. But
if you're a clueless fag, here's the lowdown: Million Dollar
Baby is an empowering film about an ordinary woman who wants
to make her mark in the world by becoming a sports champ.

As appealing as the story is for lesbians, the lead actress is
even more appealing — Hilary Swank, who snagged the Best Actress
Oscar in 2000 for playing a cross-dressing girl in Boys Don't
Cry.

Here, Hilary plays Maggie, a 31-year-old poor white trash who yearns
to rise above her tawdry existence. She wants to do this through
boxing, which is the only thing she "feels good doing".

Punching bags at a rundown gym in Los Angeles, she persuades the
gym owner (Clint Eastwood) to be her manager and trainer. Despite
his initial reservations about training girls, he gradually sees
that Maggie has the talent, spunk and determination to make it to
the top.

Cue in the Rocky anthem.

Directed by Clint himself, Million Dollar Baby has an
old-fashioned storyline with tried-and-tested twists. But it is
a carefully crafted and strongly directed film, with powerful performances
by Swank, Eastwood and Morgan Freeman (who plays Eastwood's helper).

These three actors — all received Oscar nominations —
keep us watching and feeling for the characters from one round to
the next.